Milk consumption and how it impacts herd numbers

This study is based on the following figures:
(The figures come from records of 20 years of farm management of a Cow Protection farm)

Milk Yield per cow per calf = 10,000 litres (each cow allowed to run lactation until drops below 0.5 litres per day)
Average life of a cow = 16.25 Years (takes into account calf mortality and also based on cows passing away naturally for their full longevity)

How much milk should we be using per person per day

One wise man said we should drink one pint (0.57L) per day or at least half a pint (0.28l). Lets use those as a guide for this study.

As long as you impregnate one cow a year you will get 10,000 litres of milk each year. Divided over the year (without getting into highs and lows of yield over the season) this gives a daily yield of 27.4 litres per day.

This one cow will provide milk for 48 to 97 persons per day (depending on whether we are providing 0.57l or 0.28L per person per day)

As the cows on average of 16.25 years it means that there will be 16.25 cows for every 10,000 litres of milk produced. This gives us 3 to 6 persons per cow.

Population numbers for cows and humans

Choose your country or area population and divide by 3 or 6 and that will give you how many cows there should be to give a sustainable herd following protected principles.

e.g. UK population =65.64 million (in 2016)

Size of UK herd to provide milk would be 10.94 million to 21.88 million

Actual size of UK herd 9.8 million cows (in 2016). In 2005 there were 10.5 million cows